Beatrice Chebet made history by completing a 10,000m race in less than 29 minutes at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. The event also served as the Kenyan trials for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Chebet, a two-time world 5000m medallist, was accompanied by Ethiopia’s reigning 10,000m world champion Gudaf Tsegay for the majority of the race. However, Chebet pulled ahead in the final laps and finished with a time of 28:54.14, breaking the previous record set by Letesenbet Gidey by nearly seven seconds.
Lilian Rengeruk came in third, followed by Margaret Kipkemboi. After the race, Chebet explained that she decided to keep up with Tsegay’s pace when she saw her setting a world record with Wavelight technology. Feeling that her body was responding well, Chebet made the decision to push forward and ultimately break the record.
The men’s 10,000m race also took place prior to the start of the Diamond League events at Hayward Field.
